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New Zealand Training Martial Arts Athletes for Beijing 2008 Olympics
New Zealand will face a big challenge to field a martial arts team at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, according to New Zealand sports experts.
The International Olympic Committee is due to "approve wu shu, which includes kung fu and tai chi, as an Olympic sport" very soon, President of the New Zealand Chinese Martial Arts Council Glen Keith was quoted as saying by today's local media.
Former China wu shu champion Shi Mei Lin, who has immigrated to New Zealand and is now a wu shu teacher in Wellington, said New Zealand has to train hard over the next seven years to be competitive at the Olympics.
"The first time you send a team you must be very good. We need to have a good standard to go," she said.
Shi Mei Lin's grandfather founded one of China's five main schools of tai chi, wu style. Her parents, also masters, were named "living legends" in China. She had been chief instructor of Shanghai's wu shu institute for seven years before she moved to New Zealand.
President Keith, who is an executive member of the International Wu Shu Federation, said he is confident China will showcase wu shu at the 2008 Olympics.
New Zealand needs to train young athletes who would be reaching their peak in seven years time, he added.
"Wu shu provides self-esteem, confidence and, for many, inner peace. It's not about violence, nor about winning and losing, rather, sharing knowledge and pursuing personal excellence," President Keith said.
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